What does "scold" mean?
A person who habitually scolds, in particular a troublesome and angry woman.
Scold
/skoʊld/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person who habitually scolds, in particular a troublesome and angry woman.
- Grammar: scold is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: nag, abuse, admonish, admonished.
- Useful contrasts: applaud, applauder, approve.
- Usage evidence: In such cases, adults should not scold them instantly, but be patient with them, considering their mental growth.
How to use "scold"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "scold" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "scold" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "scold" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "scold" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "nag" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A person who habitually scolds, in particular a troublesome and angry woman.
"A ſclaunderous tunge, a tunge of a ſkolde, Worketh more miſchiefe than can be tolde; That, if I wiſt not to be controlde, Yet ſomwhat to ſay I dare well be bolde,"
- 2 someone (especially a woman) who annoys people by constantly finding fault wordnet
Verb
- 1 To rebuke angrily. ambitransitive
"I advise that you refrain from using that kind of language at home, lest your mother scold you."
- 2 censure severely or angrily wordnet
- 3 Of birds, to make harsh vocalisations in aggression.
- 4 show one's unhappiness or critical attitude wordnet
- 5 Of birds, to make vocalisations that resemble human scolding.
"[T]he merry songsters of the wood now filled the air with their jubilee; the nutcracker began his monotonous clattering, the chaffinches and the wrens sang high in the sky, the blackcock scolded and blustered loudly, the thrush sang his mocking songs and libellous ditties about everybody, but became occasionally a little sentimental and warbled gently and bashfully some tender stanzas."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Misconstruction of scald. alt-of, misconstruction
Example
"In such cases, adults should not scold them instantly, but be patient with them, considering their mental growth."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "scold"?
Common synonyms include: nag, abuse, admonish, admonished, admonishing, amazon.
How do you use "scold" in a sentence?
In such cases, adults should not scold them instantly, but be patient with them, considering their mental growth.
How do you pronounce "scold"?
Pronounced /skoʊld/.
Etymology
The noun is from Middle English scold(e), skald(e), first attested in the 12th or 13th century (as scold, scolde, skolde, skald). The verb is from Middle English scolden, first attested in the late 1300s. Most dictionaries derive the verb from the noun and say the noun is probably from Old Norse skald (“poet”) (cognate with Icelandic skáld (“poet, scop”)), as skalds sometimes wrote insulting poems, though another view is that the Norse and English words are cognate to each other and to Old High German skeltan (whence Modern German schelten (“to scold, chide”)), Old Dutch skeldan (whence Modern Dutch schelden (“to scold, berate”)), all inherited from Proto-Germanic *skeldaną (“scold”).